Choosing The Genre of Your Novel

How do you feel today?


Do feel like magic is on the horizon and elves and fairies are spinning in cartwheels all around your brain. Are you imagining sending one of your imaginary friends diving into the Ganges head first or would you rather they just climbed a mountain then you'll have a chance to almost send them falling off the ledge (almost but not quite) Do you hear rattling chains and chilling screams travel up your spine, through your mutilated arms to your fingertips poised on your keyboards.

Well then - that's the genre of your novel. 
 
Fiction is classified according to the emotions it evokes in the reader or its setting. There are 8 broad genres for fiction.

1. Children's Fiction is for readers between 0 and 11 years and has characters also within the same age range.
2. Fantasy Fiction contains something fantastic that grown-ups do not believe in.
   
3. Horror is designed to send the reader scurrying underneath their beds (where of course another monster awaits. 
4. In Mystery novels, the reader and your detective will try to get to the bottom of some puzzle or unexplained happening.
5. Alas, here comes the Romance where Prince Charming will find his fair maiden and they shall proceed to make their own 'happily ever after'.
6. Science Fiction will send you off to distant galaxies or bring their inhabitants right to your doorstep. Of course they come bearing new technologies that keep scientists scratching their heads. 
7. Expect action! action! action! in a Thriller throw in some international intrigue, unexpected blasts, exotic locations and a few spies and you're well on your way to maximum suspense.
8. Young Adult reading targets those between the age of 12 and 14 with the main characters also falling within the same age group.

As a new writer there is really no pressure to stick to a genre. You can choose to do a Genre Quiz to determine your niche. You can decide the genre based on what are the most popular genres (mysteries. thrillers and crime have the highest number of readers) or just experiment with different genres.  But eventually you will need to settle on one.
 

Why Settle? Well if you're expecting to be a published writer then a fan base will come with it. Your fans will expect a certain type of writing from you and if you want to avoid turned up noses you better stick to the package you offered them the first time. Sticking to one genre will help you become an expert in it making writing successive books much easier. And finally - choosing the genre will be one less day when you're going through this cycle next time. 

The genre you finally settle on should be one you are familiar with in that you've read many books within it. It should be something you find fun. A trick to make you stretch your writing muscles is to pick a genre that interests you but that you find intimidating.  

Other Fiction Genre Resources

Fiction Genres